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Comment: Ebay is very, very addictive. Thank God for Amazon.com*

Your nephew just bought an Xbox 360 on eBay and your ex-girlfriend used eBay to buy replicas of every type of shoe she saw worn in Sex in the City. Needless to say, you are more than tempted to go on eBay and figure out what hidden treasures are waiting for you. There is only one problem: How do you get started?Get out your pens and pencils and take note – these simple rules and suggestions will have you armed and ready for deployment in world of online auctions in no time.

Sign Up for PayPal
After you sign up for your eBay account, turn around and sign up for a PayPal account. It is pretty much a necessity when shopping on eBay as it is the most commonly accepted form of payment. Paypal is a service that allows you to utilize your bank account and your credit cards to fund your eBay purchases. It makes the transactions a hundred times easier. Just make sure to read all the fine print before signing your soul away.

Types of Items
Pretty much anything. Well, anything legal and sometimes things that are questionable. Everything from jewellery to arcade machines. There are a lot of neat finds on eBay that you cannot find anywhere else. I once scored a collection of miniature reproductions of the artwork of Japanese woodblock artist Hiroshige.

I find the best items usually revolve around media content and collectibles. New and used DVDs, music, books, comics, and videogames can usually be found for a great deal as long as they aren’t new releases or really rare.

One of the great things on eBay is that in the case of music and movies, sellers are not trying to sell their item to gain a profit but rather they are selling them because they have enjoyed their item and no longer need it taking up shelf space.

Research
Knowing what you want is one thing. But knowing what you should bid is another. Know how much the item you are looking for usually costs and target around that to get a deal.
Check out fan forums and check out how much it would cost to import these items through a regular shop or online store.
If you want to pick up some threads, know your sizes well before even searching online for your armour or shoes. Being a knowledgeable consumer is being a smart consumer.

Items to Avoid
My advice is to avoid big ticket items. There is potential risk when buying any electronic equipment and dealing with returns on eBay can be an extreme and costly hassle. Customer service in stores can be a great asset in buying a big ticket item.

Just be smart about your purchases. Utilize common sense. Don’t use eBay to buy an engagement ring for your fiancé-to-be.

Budget Wisely
Plan how much you can afford to spend on “extra-curricular” items before you even begin your first search. Enforce your rules. Ebay can be a dangerous place to splurge.

Beware of Addictions
Just be warned that eBay can lead into a complex set of addictions that is similar to first time you played Tetris. Ebay lets you choose how much you think an item is worth. However, you are not alone. Getting into a bidding war can get intense. It is all about beating the other guy. Fierce competition for items can lead to increased addiction to eBay. It’s strangely like playing a combination of a strategy game and gambling.

Tips for Searching and Buying

Proxy Bid
With Proxy Bidding you can input your final bid amount right from the beginning of the auction.  The bid amount increases systematically when other people try to input a bid on your item. While this may take some of the fun out of the game, it saves time and can help you maintain your budget.

Ask Questions
Ask your seller questions if their description is not clear. Know your item before you place a bid. Ask about the shipping costs. Sometimes a seller will ship to your location even though they have not specified it in their listing. Asking questions can never hurt. If a seller does not respond, don’t buy.

Don’t be Afraid to Check the Oversea Markets
Don’t be afraid to buy items from the UK or Japan. A lot of cool items come out of these areas and never reach North American shores. Currency issues are easily dealt with via PayPal and the wait shipping on these items is often better than the wait for domestic ground shipping. Just make sure there are no format issues.

Check eBay Stores
Ebay stores are often a safe place to buy items. They are like regular stores and sell a large quantity of items. The selling is a little more systematic, but the buying environment is safer. The prices will usually be a little higher, but you can still find major deals.

Read
This is the single most important rule for smart eBay shopping. Read the item description at least three times before you bid. This will give you time to think over your purchase and learn about the condition of your item. Making a bid is like signing a contract. Read the fine print! Even though it is rare, there are a few tricks that can be played on the unassuming inattentive shopper. Knowledge is power!

Be Aware of Shipping Costs
Ebay shopping can be fun until you realize that you forgot to add the shipping costs. Be sure to budget the shipping costs into your final bidding amount.  Keeping an eye on shipping costs will help make sure your deal is a deal. A lot of sellers will offer discounted shipping if you buy more than one item just make sure you are buying items you actually want.

As a last point on shipping, you will also want to make sure your precious item is securely packaged and is sent to you the way you want.

Feedback

This is the eBay report card. Make sure you check your seller’s report card before buying. Read the feedback that other users have left. This helps weed out potential scumbags.
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the online marketplace
Although it might sound complex, buying on eBay is a quick and easy way to get anything that you may be looking for. So remember these suggestions and keep your eyes peeled.